[NFBCS] Refreshable braille displays

Sun Jan 16 02:13:29 UTC 2022

Charles,

I think you have already figured out that the answer may not be simple.  If someone had given me an 80 cell display, I would have gladly taken it, but I'm not sure I would have spent my own money on it.  While it may simplify looking at indentation, it also involves more arm motion that can be problematic for some people.  Most of my programming was done using a 40 character embosser and a shorter braille display.  There are some tools that one can use to get some of the indentation information that can partly make up for the shorter display.  JAWS has some capability to move the data displayed on a braille display  straight up and down, for example.  With some editors and IDE, one may use a hybrid approach where one gets some information through speech and some from the braille display.  I do not know why, but for me, viewing complicated programming simply was easier for me to grasp when I used braille.  It is hard to analyze why.  Also, there is no doubt that complicated data names and labels are sometimes easier to comprehend in braille.

If you are going to buy a display, you should consider what else you might do with it.  For example, as you become more proficient in braille, you may wish to use a display with a smart phone.  That probably would make having a Bluetooth option important.  Some braille displays have some stand-alone capability as well.  They allow one to create and edit files which can be useful for taking notes, for example.  You probably don't need these features for programming now, but it is worth trying to anticipate the future.  

I applaud you for taking this step.  Good luck.

Best regards,

Steve Jacobson

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of charles.vanek--- via NFBCS
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 6:09 PM
To: 'Louis Maher' <ljmaher03 at outlook.com>; 'NFB in Computer Science Mailing List' <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: charles.vanek at gmail.com
Subject: Re: [NFBCS] Refreshable braille displays

Thanks both for the suggestions.  I've not been a heavy programmer in 10 years 😊  Want it more for reviewing other's code, creating/updating YAML and other config scripts and the like.  Biggest reason is simply to start actively using the braille display vs the high contrast zoom with Fusion (ZoomText & JAWS).  Want to become a more proficient reader.

A JAWS driver is a must, I'll probably go with a 40 cell for now, the per cell cost of the 80 cells is actually higher than the per cell at 40.  Seems like the cost per cell is still quite high.  

If anyone has tried the Mantis that Louis noted, would like to hear what you think of it.

Best,
Charles

-----Original Message-----
From: Louis Maher <ljmaher03 at outlook.com> 
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 5:09 PM
To: NFB in Computer Science Mailing List <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Charles Vanek <charles.vanek at gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [NFBCS] Refreshable braille displays

Hi Charles,

When I did programming all the time, I had an 80-cell display at work, and a 40-cell display at home.

Currently I have a Focus 40 blue fifth generation https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.freedomscientific.com%2FProducts%2FBlindness%2FFocusBlueBrailleDisplays&data=04%7C01%7C%7C472348a4c41c4bb7b95008d9d884878c%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637778886002409289%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=79kV7Q9th1sOvaWUa9Kems6ikf5StM6gERYhquKgJhw%3D&reserved=0
from Vispero.  I have had it for many years, and it is reliable.  It can be used as a stand-alone note-taker, but this is not its main design function.
It has a Braille keyboard for input.  I have a logitech K360 QWERTY keyboard which I use for most of my inputting. 

I recently purchased an Orbit 40 Braille display https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.orbitresearch.com%2Fsupport%2Forbit-reader-40-support%2Forbit-reader-40-user-guide-downloads%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C472348a4c41c4bb7b95008d9d884878c%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637778886002409289%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=wH9p46bmFR1UsGJEQHEBVMqiYC0gaJAGLO3114b5Mg8%3D&reserved=0

This display is new.  It costs around $1500.  It is designed to be a stand-alone notetaker, and it is a good display for computers and phones.
It runs with NVDA.  Its JAWS driver has been submitted to Vispero for approval.  I did have some issues connecting it to JAWS, and I am waiting for the official JAWS driver. 
It has a Braille keyboard.

Lastly there is the Mantis Q40
https://na01.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.aph.org%2Fproduct%2Fmantis-q40%2F&data=04%7C01%7C%7C472348a4c41c4bb7b95008d9d884878c%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637778886002409289%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000&sdata=DD93JXtL1TtJbJ9F6Hu%2FiQePvxMzqFYpdCQRWOLys98%3D&reserved=0
This display uses a QWERTY  keyboard and it has a good reputation.  I have not seen this display.

If you intend to do heavy programming, you might look at the Vispero Focus 80 cell display.

All these displays have bluetooth and USB connections.

Regards
Louis Maher
Phone: 713-444-7838
E-mail: ljmaher03 at outlook.com

-----Original Message-----
From: NFBCS <nfbcs-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Charles Vanek via NFBCS
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2022 1:00 PM
To: nfbcs at nfbnet.org
Cc: Charles Vanek <charles.vanek at gmail.com>
Subject: [NFBCS] Refreshable braille displays

Hi all, I'm looking for a recommendation for a refreshable braille display to use with windows and Mac. I am a braille novice, long story short since I had some vision I was told I didn't need to learn it so all I have learned on my own is numbers letters and very basic symbols. I want to use the display for computer programming where spacing is very relevant, amongst using it for other general purpose tasks. I also hope that this will help me learn all of the characters and become far more proficient.

What I'd like to know is your recommendation, how you use it, and why you particularly like that display for its various other features. I'm probably indifferent as to whether it is USB or Bluetooth. Obviously both would be nice to half.

Thanks all in advance.

Sent from my iPhone
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